Resident Evil 4 Feature Preview

Despite the fact that Resident Evil 4 hit the GameCube earlier this year, the game is still one of the most anticipated titles for the PlayStation 2 this fall. Rather than simply port the GC version, Capcom has thrown some extra bells and whistles into the top-notch title to give fans who have mastered the original a reason to pick up the PS2 game. We had the chance to get an exclusive look at a work-in-progress version of the game to see how much has been added to the already-stellar experience.

Alternate costumes will include those from the GameCube version as well as new ones.

So here's a quick rundown of the essentials on RE4 on the PlayStation 2. You'll get the RE4 experience in its entirety, so you can expect to find the original game and the Mercenaries minigame, along with the same assortment of playable characters and costumes. However, in addition to all that, you'll find a new weapon, P.R.L. 412, which is a compact version of the parasite-destroying laser from the original. There are new costumes for Leon and Ashley, and a brand-new five-chapter game called Separate Ways that stars Ada Wong. The chapters are set throughout Leon's RE4 experience, and you'll see what Ada was doing while Leon was busy fighting for his life. For example, the bell that saved Leon at the start of the game was rung by Miss Wong. The five-chapter adventure is a self-contained look that fleshes out Ada's motives, although we still aren't 100 percent satisfied we know why she's rolling in an evening dress. In addition to letting you play through some of the same areas seen in Leon's adventure, Capcom has crafted an all-new battleship level that's exclusive to the PS2. The minigame will also let you play in a new costume not seen on the GameCube, and you'll have access to Ada's report, which provides more info on the story.

For anyone who hasn't followed the original game, we'll offer a quick thumbnail sketch. Resident Evil 4 is set roughly six years after the Umbrella Corporation--makers of handy products for society and the dreaded zombie-making T-virus--has gone down. Leon Kennedy, last seen in RE2, is back as a special agent in search of the president's daughter in a mysterious European village. When his search takes a turn for the worse and he stumbles onto a terrible wrong that threatens the world and his ability to stay alive, Leon makes like a good hero and sets out to kick ass and take names.

The gameplay maintains the winning overhaul of the tried-and-true RE mechanics that basically saved the series from being written off as a once-relevant franchise. Though the basic RE mechanics are still in place, RE4's more action-oriented approach and use of context-sensitive actions breathe new life into the series and even provide the action genre itself with a kick in the pants. The control scheme makes the leap to the PlayStation 2 controller without a hitch and even ends up feeling a bit better than the GameCube pad did. The Separate Ways minigame is similar to the gameplay in the original, although Ada is rocking some better arms and some slick gadgets to help her through her task. As a result, she handles a bit differently than Leon, which gives her a unique appeal.

The PS2 visuals are every bit as impressive as those on the GameCube.

The visuals, likely to be one of the most scrutinized elements of the experience, are surprisingly faithful to the GameCube game's quality. This is especially impressive, considering that Capcom coded the GC game specifically for the platform, and the PS2 game is a conversion done in half the time. For those looking to go through this adventure with a fine-tooth comb, you will certainly find elements that aren't exactly the same as the GC version. However, we doubt anyone will be surprised to hear that the PS2 game features less-detailed textures and special effects, and it's jaggier in a few more places than the GameCube version is. That said, this version is still a striking mix of technology and artistry. The town and its surrounding areas are brought to life with an assortment of eerie and almost photo-realistic environments that create a subtle but persistent feeling of unease as you explore them. Once you get out of the town and start looking around, you'll come across RE staples, such as abandoned houses, underground cave passages, and flooded areas, all of which are rendered in awesome detail. You'll also find some areas that add variety to the action, such as an ominous castle, a shantytown that's built on stilts and connected by catwalks covered with flowing scraps of fabric, and a massive outdoor swamp area that leads to the lake where you'll fight the first chapter's mighty end boss.